A truly non-occlusive stent-graft moulding balloon for thoracic endovascular aortic repair†

: Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic pathologies has recently progressed towards more proximal pathologies, including those of the aortic arch and ascending aorta where there is a higher risk for stent-graft migration during the deployment or the moulding procedure due to the beating and ejecting heart. Typical measures to prevent dislodgement of the balloon or the stent-graft during the procedure are rapid pacing or pharmacologically induced hypotension. We present a circular and fully non-occlusive stent-graft moulding balloon that does not require any reduction of cardiac output or hypotension during inflation, moulding and deflation of the balloon.